Chewbacca's Lightsaber Triumphs Over TSA

We
all know that's not always the case, especially when we're carrying
something that raises concerns from the Transportation Security
Administration.

The 7-foot-2-inch tall actor Peter Mayhew, best
known for playing Chewbacca in the Star Wars movies, ran into a security
line delay last week when he was stopped for his lightsaber inspired
cane.

Mayhew, 69, was heading home from Denver Comic Con when his
movie-inspired cane provoked a second look by TSA agents. Mayhew travels
regularly to different conventions, meeting fans and tweeting photos.
Next stop is London's Film and Comic Con in July.

Mayhew quickly
took to his Twitter account to protest the inspection of his cane, and
credits Twitter for its speedy release. He's seen in a Twitter photo
sitting in a wheelchair, which he says he's also using because of a bum
knee.

One Chewie tweet: "Magic words to TSA are not 'please' or 'thank you'.. It's 'Twitter'.. cane released to go home."

The
cane was not detained, says the TSA, which e-mailed CNN.com this
statement: "Because of the unusual weight of the passenger's cane, a
security officer alerted a supervisor. Less than five minutes later, the
passenger and cane were cleared to travel."

A check of the TSA's "prohibited items" list revealed this information about lightsabers:

"Sadly,
the technology doesn't currently exist to create a real light saber.
However, you can pack a toy light saber in your carry-on or checked bag.
May the force be with you." (The TSA spells it "light saber.")

"Even
if an item is generally permitted, it may be subject to additional
screening or not allowed through the checkpoint if it triggers an alarm
during the screening process, appears to have been tampered with, or
poses other security concerns. The final decision rests with TSA on
whether to allow any items on the plane."

Wrote
‏@milapajamas: "Peter Mayhew @TheWookieeRoars was stopped by TSA cause
he had a lightsaber. I guess it is a weapon after all, which means Star
Wars is real."

Sometimes a cane is clearly more than a cane. It's
an icon, a symbol of a movie that's a cultural touchstone. And
sometimes, it's a storage unit for a knife. The TSA blog reports that a
passenger at Washington Dulles Airport was surprised when TSA agents
found her cane concealed a knife. She had recently bought it at an
antique store.